A/N: This chapter starts with Cato. Sad feels, sigh. But maybe happy feels? And a reference back to Chapter 14 if you need to know where we're referencing.

"W-what?" I cover my mouth with both of my hands to keep myself from screaming. After a few seconds, I put them down and say, "You...you don't mean it." ~

"Didn't you hear me?" I whisper. "Get out." ~

"But...I can't leave you! Anything but that!" I'm terrible. Another lie. But I really can't leave him now. It's impossible. ~

I take a deep breath and step over to the door and open it. "You said anything." I'm shaking, nearly violently. "Now just fucking go, would you?" My voice is trembling and I'm going to begin sobbing any second now. ~

I put my head down and walk over to the door. I stop short to take one last look at the boy from Twelve, when I realize something. He would never make me leave, no matter what. It's not like him to do that. No matter what shit he says to me. He told me himself, just a few months ago back home. "Are you sure about that?" I take a deep breath like it's the last one I'll ever take, and I lean forward and kiss him for a long time, holding him close to me so that he can't escape. Not in a violent way this time. In a loving way that doesn't hurt him. I put my hand on the back of his head and play with his hair to remind him that I love doing that, and he loves when I do it. While kissing him, I kick the door closed with my foot. When I finally pull away, I ask again, "Are you sure?" ~

My entire body is trembling, and the moment I begin speaking, I'm already drowning in my own tears. "If I ever told you to go, I'd never mean it." I begin repeating myself, staring him right in the eyes. ~

"I know that. That's why I didn't leave. It just means you want me to kiss you and love you more." I smile, hoping to get a good reaction out of this. ~

He remembered. "Never leave me...Always love me." Always. That's what we said. It is. ~

"I will always love you. I would never forget that you told me that. I remember everything about you. Everything you said to me. It's all important, that's why. I never meant to hurt you...just make you better. It was a failed attempt, though." I laugh nervously. "But never did I stop loving you. And I'll never leave." I reach over to his broken wrist and stroke the cast. "I'm more than sorry for everything, you know...or, I hope you know. Just...we have, what, four or five hours left alone? Please, you said no more fights...I don't want any more fights, either. Please just give me that chance to be with you again and I will give you many reasons to never doubt me again." And I hug him. Not another kiss, just a hug. I'm afraid that if I kiss him again, he'll push me away. So I just hold him for a long time. ~

"I'll forgive you..." I laugh a little. "On two conditions. One, you've got to stop saying you're sorry. And two..." I look up at him. "You have to kiss me again." ~

Of course, I comply. It's another long one this time, and I break it off for just a moment so that I can throw him onto the bed. "For that first condition, I'll try." Then, I jump on top of him and continue with the kissing. ~

I missed his lips. His warmth. "No more fights." I whisper in a begging tone. "Never again." I hate fighting with him. He's the only one I really have. ~

"We'll try our best. Anything else? Oh-be careful with your arm." Back to feeling guilty. But no sorries allowed. ~

"I know, I know... Just...try to listen to me, okay? Even if you're protecting me, sometimes...I know what I'm saying. Hear me out, at least. That's all." ~

"I'll try, okay?" I cry out. "Please don't leave me...I know you should, but please don't...how can I make it up to you?" ~

"I wouldn't leave you, Cato. I just...ask that you try. That's all. No conditions... Be mine. Mine...only mine." I kiss his cheek, which is all I can reach. ~

"I wouldn't give myself to anyone else. Peeta, I don't understand your love for me...but I don't think I ever will. That's only something you would know. But I can try to understand. And...can we try again again?" ~

"I'll be yours for as long as you'll have me." ~

"Then, forever it is." I always meant forever. Even if it didn't seem apparent, I meant it. "I don't want to ever leave...time apart would have been the dumbest idea ever, now that I think about it. The first time you went away, we got into a huge fight...and when I left for the Victory Tour and came back, we've had so many fights. That was only two weeks ago." ~

"I mean, you're going to be physically gone from me anyway...the only thing keeping me sane is going to be knowing that you're still here." I grip my chest where my heart is. ~

I take his right hand and put it up to my forehead. "You're here." I put it to my chest. "And here." I let his hand go, but put mine on his shoulder. "And right here." Trying to suppress the sobs, I pull him in for another kiss. ~

I let myself cry as I kiss him, because I don't want to cry later. Not in front of everyone. "You'll be back..." I whisper, my lips still partially on his. ~

"I will. And we can start over then...clean slate? Not that I deserve it, really, but yeah." I don't think this dent in our relationship will ever go away. But it has to, if I ever want to be happy with him. ~

I nod. "Clean slate." ~

"And...and cake?" I smile warily. ~

"Without a doubt." ~

"And I still get a birthday party?" I laugh. ~

"I didn't do all that planning for you to get all down on yourself and have it canceled." I stick my tongue out at him. "Of course!" ~

"And I still get to marry you and have sexytime with you?" ~

"Oh, you'd better believe that." I smile, taking his hands in mine. ~

"And while I'm gone...you'll stand up to your mom for me?" ~

"I'll try.." I whisper. ~

"Good." ~

"I've tried before, you know." I say to him. No more secrets. ~

"Then when this is all over, I'll kill her." I really want to. ~

"That is my fight, Cato. If I can't protect myself against my own mother, what am I going to do in the real world?" ~

"You have me!" I won't hurt him again. I can protect him. "I told you, it's our fight now." ~

"But it's been mine for much longer." I look up at him. "You can't protect me forever...I'm not a girl." I smile a little. ~

"But you are-shit!" I look down at his wrist. "I promised your dad I wouldn't do anything bad to you..." ~

"Portia will fix it, love. You didn't mean to. He doesn't have to know." I hold his hand with the fingers on my left hand. ~

"But...that's lying. If you don't tell him...then I will." I lie down on the bed and pull the covers over my head. "Can we just do something happy before I leave?" ~

"You can't..." I whisper, walking over to him. "What do you want to do?" ~

"Just talk...not about this," I whimper, "I just want to get to know you. I feel like we drifted apart...just tell me everything about you." ~

"I...don't know where to start." I laugh, pulling the covers off from his head. "How about you ask me anything?" ~

"Just little things. Things I'd think are cute. Like your shoelaces, or your cats." ~

I miss my cats. "Uhm..." I think. "My favorite color is orange." I smile. ~

"Like bright orange?" I laugh, remembering that he's mentioned before that his dad left him an orange lily after the Games. ~

"No, no!" I shake my head. "Like...like sunset." ~

"Sunset? You are such a girl." I reach up and flatten the hair that was sticking out on his head. "And you know mine is red...like blood." I joke. It feels good to be joking with him again. ~

"Convenient that red was your jacket color, right?" I laugh. "Okay... Your turn." ~

"That's because I get everything I want. Like you." I grin. "Let's see...let me try to find something good from my childhood, or...well, I really like chicken. I've only ever had it in the Capitol, though. We don't get it around District Two, but I've had it twice before. It's so good!" ~

"I remember that from before the Games!" It was really good. Different from most game meats I'd had, but in a good way. "My favorite thing in the Capitol was ice cream." I'd never had it before, and it was one of the most perfect things I'd eaten. ~

"Vanilla ice cream, I bet." That's right, Peeta. I won't forget that dream. ~

My face goes red. "No!" I laugh a bit nervously. "Actually, there was this one that tasted like cake. Just like cake. They never said what it was called. But it was amazing." ~

"I think we had that too!" Everything tastes like cake to him. "Your turn, Peeta Bread." ~

"Okay, uh..." Hm. "I remember," since he brought it up. "The first dream I had about you, like that, I woke up totally freaked out. Because I had no idea I was even capable of that stuff!" I laugh. ~

"Oh...you're capable." Very capable. "When did you start having these naughty dreams?" ~

"The night before the cave." I admit, still blushing. "I woke up, freaked, but went back to bed...next thing I knew, Clove was like, six inches from me. Weirdest transition ever." ~

"So that's why you wanted to kill her so bad!" I sit up and start laughing at his embarrassment. "She ruined your dream." ~

"No!" I laugh. "That's not why!" I pause, shaking my head smiling. "But girls are kind of the biggest turn-off ever." ~

"You're the biggest turn-on ever. Speaking of which...you probably don't realize it, but I dream about you too. Every night." ~

I wasn't expecting that. "Do you really?" ~

"Some good, some bad...actually, I lot of you dying. That's what I'm afraid of the most," I admit. My dreams have been tormenting me for the past six months, and I'm sure they'll continue like that for the rest of my life. Hopefully, they'll die down a little bit, because I know Peeta's here. "But sometimes it's a sexy dream. Where uh...you dominated." I slowly pull the covers back over my face. Oh god. ~

"Don't hide from me!" I laugh at how out of character he is. "I didn't know you liked it that much." I pull the covers from him. ~

"Stop! It's so embarrassing!" Him topping is weird enough in my dreams. "I like it a lot, okay?!" ~

"How is it embarrassing?" ~

"Because naturally, you'd think I'm the top." ~

"Hey!" I pout jokingly. He's right though. "Nah, I understand. I kinda like it both ways." I admit in a whisper. ~

"Me too...I just like seeing you take control for once." It's good for him to be in control sometimes. "I think it gives you confidence." ~

"I think that makes sense." I scruff his hair. "Not a bad thing, love." I smile. "Your turn." ~

"Hmm..." What to say? I'm not allowed to apologize again, so I can't say sorry...I'll try going for an indirect approach. "I've been violent my entire life. Then again, I used to think that was a good thing." ~

"It's just what you knew..I understand that. I used to think everyone from the Career districts was shallow, reckless and stupid." I laugh. We thought they were crazy to volunteer. "Boy, you showed me." ~

"But, even without the training...before I even started, I was violent. Ever since I was born, probably." As much as I want to, I don't laugh with him. "Just...always." ~

"Then I-your wimpy boyfriend-will help you work on it. You can't fret about that for your whole life." ~

"I don't want this to happen again," I say, pointing to his wrist. "Ever." ~

"It's a team effort." I touch his face with my left hand. "Baby steps." ~

"Okay..." He loves me again. "I love you." ~

"I know it." I'm sure. "I love you, too." ~

"I wish I could go back in time and stop myself from doing that to your arm...and that to your heart." I try to wipe the dried tears away from his face, but they're just plastered on. ~

"What's done is done..." I whisper. "Nothing that's broken can't be fixed." ~

"Do you trust me?" ~

"Only you." ~

"Why?" ~

"Haven't you listened to me at all? Love is trust." ~

"I did listen. You're the best." ~

"Far from it." ~

"But..." I take his left hand carefully and kiss it. "You're the best for me." ~

"And you're perfect for me." ~

"I..." If I object, he'll just insist on it. How can I be perfect for him if I keep doing shit like this? But I know he loves me, so I just won't object. "Thanks for the second chance." ~

"It may seem foolish, but I'd give you a million chances." ~

"Luckily, you only need one." I sigh, still staring at his broken wrist. I can't forgive myself for this. "When I leave tonight, I'll make sure everything gets done just for you. Not me, anymore. Just you. My life for yours. Always." ~

"Don't work yourself up over this...think of it this way. If you think about it too much, you'll get yourself killed out there. That, I can't forgive you for." I give him a smile to show I'm joking, but I really don't want him to focus too much on this. "You need to keep your head when you're fighting. Do it for us, Cato. I would want you to do it for us." ~

"Anything for you," I say, smiling back. "And...I just want you to know something. When you said that you doubted me because I had that thought in my head, or I was giving up on love...I really wasn't giving up. I was trying to make it better...I...I just suck at thinking things through." ~

"And I'm the king of overthinking things." I put my hand on his cheek. "Match made in heaven, don't you remember?" ~

"Queen," I correct him. "And yes, a match made in heaven. A guy who takes words too seriously and a guy who can't find the right words. A guy who really sucks with words," I say for emphasis. Maybe if I thought before I opened my mouth, our conversations would turn out a little bit better. I'll work on it. ~

"King," I correct him as well. "Just happened that way, right? We can't help it." I smile. "But we can work on it for one another." ~

"Princess." I laugh. "You've been downgraded." I hope he doesn't mind the joking now. "You'd think after this long, I would've learned a little bit from you...now I'm just cheesy as hell. Thanks, Peeta." ~

I shoot him a look, which unnerves him for a moment, but then break into laughing. "I'll only be queen on one condition." ~

"I hate to ruin a potentially cute moment, but let me finish that for you." I sit up straight in bed and begin mimicking his voice. "'I'll be queen if you're my king.' Was that it?" ~

"Actually, no." ~

"...Well now I'm embarrassed." ~

"I was going to say that I'd be queen, so long as you treated me like one. Pampered treatment, food, bowing, the whole nine yards." I pause. "But I guess yours works, too." ~

"Too much effort." I sigh. "You can treat me like one, though. Go lay out my clothes." ~

"Uh, no." Wow, the way I said that sounded really gay. I guess since I didn't have to hide it anymore, it's all just kind of happening. No more suppressing. ~

"I mean, go lay out the clothes I'm wearing. On the floor." I wink at him. ~

I squint at him slightly, trying to figure out if he's being serious or not. ~

"Come on, we don't have all day here! I want to be almost naked with you until it's time for lunch." I pause, then start whining. "Pleeeeeeeeaaaaase." ~

"Whining isn't going to get you places." I shake my head a bit and laugh at him. ~

"You can top again, if you want." ~

"That doesn't matter to me, I've told you." ~

"But...I know you want it." I slowly lift the bottom of my shirt to expose some of my skin. "Make up non-sex...?" ~

I raise my eyebrows. "I never objected." I say cooly. ~

"Then...come on." I hold my arms out to him and mouth the word 'please.' ~

I mimick his arm motions, giving him a playful, sly smile. ~

"Peeeeeeetaaaaaa!" I pull the covers over my head, because I swear, I'll start throwing a tantrum. And he does not want to see that. ~

"Whining isn't going to get you anywhere," I repeat. "Especially not my pants." ~

"But...I said I want you in mine!" I start kicking my legs a little bit. "Peeta!" ~

"Well whining won't get me in your pants, either." ~

"But...come on! Peeta Bread, dear, Lover Boy...ahhhhhhhhh." Stop being stubborn and rip the fucking clothes from my body. ~

I laugh, standing from the bed and crossing my arms. "Sucking up also won't work." ~

"Perform your marriage duties, fiance." If that doesn't work, I don't know what will. ~

"Duties?" I scoff, still laughing. "If I'm judging by your words, then we're not married, so there are no marriage duties." I love messing with him, because we're both terribly stubborn. ~

No! "Then let's get married today!" ~

I roll my eyes. "Now you just want to marry me for sex." He's desperate. He's gotta break soon. ~

"Mhm." I nod my head, wondering if he can tell I'm moving it. "I'd seriously marry you today, if we had had time." ~

"Sure, I'll marry you today." I pause, testing him. "But then we can't do anything sex-related at all. Not for at least another month." ~

"Why not?" ~

"Because I suspect you want to marry me today because you want sexytimes." I laugh. "Oh, and you have to ask my dad, too. Or else it's illegal, 'cause I'm seventeen." I'd want him to ask my dad, anyway, but that's irrelevant. ~

I immediately push the covers off me. "Alright," I say, sitting up, "I'll go ask him now." ~

"Okay!" I hold my hand out for him. "I'll go with you." I smile. Oh, this is good. ~

I take his hand and lead us off the bed. "Why? To get proof I asked?" He thinks I wouldn't do it. Funny. ~

"I'll hide, even. I just want to hear. Is that so bad?" ~

"Nope. I'll even speak extra loud, to make sure you can hear me." I check out my hair in the mirror. "Fix this," I say, pointing to the horrific disappointment that is the top of my head. ~

"Why, because I'm the girl, so I obviously have more knowledge of hair?" I go over to a side table and grab the comb I stole from Portia's table the other day and comb out his hair before scruffing it up just a little, to make it look natural. "There." ~

"Thank you, girlfriend." I run to the end of the room, partially to avoid him, and partially to get a change of pants and a shirt. "Is your dad more sympathetic to grey or grey?" I ask, holding up two identical shirts. ~

I point to the one on the left. "Grey, definitely." I laugh. ~

"Alright." God, I'm so excited that I pull the other shirt off my body in a second, but I pause for a moment to say, "You could've had this," pointing to my upper body. Then, I put on the shirt he pointed to and change my pants. "Let's go. I don't need shoes, do I? Let's go." I grab the doorknob and yank the door open. "Let's go." ~

A/N: WHAT AN UNEXPECTED TWIST. Haha. 3 Reviews are LOVED. xx